by Randi Darren
There was a profound and deep silence in Alex’s bedroom. He could practically feel Leah. It was as if she were sitting just above his bed, staring down at Rebekah in thought.
“That’s a very good idea,” Leah said. “But… I don’t know what scent would work.”
“Mint, Mistress Leah,” Rebekah said. “I was able to get a hold of some mint recently. I’ll test how hard it is to manufacture into an oil. We could spread it as a custom. A contract brushed once with oil of mint is likely to be blessed and enforced by Leah, mistress of deals, or something like that.
“Then let it slip that even using mint to seal other types of deals or promises might bring the same. Like… a marriage, or borrowing something. Perhaps they put some oil on their palms when they shake on it. It’d work for the lesser classes.
“We could reach out to Master Ulles and see about opening a mint-oil business and have your crest as the container’s emblem.”
“You’re a tricky thing, Rebekah of Brit,” Leah said after a few seconds. She sounded amused. “A tricky, tricky thing indeed. But I like it, and you.
“Fine. I name you head priestess of my non-existent religion. You may call on me when you have a religious need. Do as you planned.”
Leah’s presence vanished as if it had never been there.
“Good,” Rebekah said, hugging Alex tightly. “That worked out rather well. It only took a few weeks to plan ahead for it. Though it wasn’t very fair that she read my mind and just dug up all the details on her own.”
“She, uh… plays by her own rules,” Alex said. He suddenly felt like he’d drastically underestimated Rebekah.
“Come, Alex, my love, the man whom I’ll be with until our souls fade to nothing. Play with your willing sex-kitten. Your vassals will arrive tomorrow. One sent a fast messenger the moment the enemy was done, and I worked with Mistress Anna to have all your invitations sent out per Four’s instructions,” Rebekah said as she pulled his head down into her chest. “I need your love and attention, and I haven’t taken Mother’s Bane since you left.”
That’s an entirely different conversation and—
“You can play the awful count today and savage me against my will. The poor commoner girl you stole away into your dungeons against her wishes and hopes.
“To ruin me and put your seed deep in me, even as I beg you and tell you to stop. All the while wanting it harder and rougher from you, to break me. To mold me into the toy you want me to be, because that’s what I want,” Rebekah purred in his ear as one of her legs came over to slide up and down his thigh. “Ravage me over and over today as you make me yours against my will, while I stare at you with needy and loving eyes, even as you put it deep in my womb and give me a child and I beg you to stop.”
Fuck.
Chapter 14
Alex walked over to the entry into his formal receiving hall as Alanna came through the doors.
With a touch lighter hair color then her aunt’s, Alanna’s ran closer to a dirty blond. It was bound up behind her head in simple, clean braids.
Her green eyes were an exact duplicate of Mary’s, however, and her figure was almost a mirror image of her aunt’s.
Alana tended to wear dresses that made her look beautiful while Mary favored garments that helped her remain far more modest looking.
She was the first to arrive of all his vassals, not counting Mary, who lived with Anna now.
“Alex,” Alanna said, her eyes meeting his and then slipping to Anna next to him. “Mistress Anna. It’s a—”
Anna walked right up to the taller woman, grabbed her on both sides of the face, and hauled her down. Kissing her right then and there, Anna held on to the other woman.
Several seconds passed before she released her, letting the dazed and confused young woman stand back up.
“You’re going to be my wife,” Anna said, patting her cheek. “I already have all the paperwork drawn up. Would you like to service our husband before or after your marriage certificate is signed?”
Alanna stared at Anna, dumbfounded and shocked.
“After,” Alex said, gently breaking Alanna free of his wife. Then he took her hand in his and shook it firmly. “Welcome, Baroness Alanna of Ridge. As you were just told, Anna would like you to become another one of my wives. I apparently can’t seem to have too many.”
Alanna looked at Alex, shaking his hand in return.
“Okay,” she said. “Do I get to remain a baroness, or do I have to stay here, or—”
“Nothing would change,” Alex said, giving Anna a firm look before she could say anything. “You would only visit when you wanted and would be free to do as you please.”
Anna nodded quickly, smiling at Alex and Alanna. “Yes. Exactly.”
“Then I accept,” Alanna said, a small smile spreading across her cheeks. “That means it’s Anna, Regina, and Mary?”
“Quinn and Katherine, too,” Anna said excitedly, clapping her hands together. “I’m getting married three times this month. I can’t wait till you all get pregnant and I have more babies. I want lots. Will you give me a few, dear?”
Alanna looked confused, but she was still nodding at Anna’s words.
“Oh good. If I get three from you, that’d be wonderful,” Anna said. Taking Alanna away from Alex, she began leading her back toward the table set aside specifically for wives.
“Poor thing,” Valeria said. She was standing next to Alex, wearing a lovely dress and looking quite happy. “She’ll be begging Anna to bed her before the night’s over, and Mistress will just drop her off in your bed with a head pat.”
“Same thing she does to Regina,” Rebekah said. “Oh well. That’s their lot in life. I find myself fortunate to be a Numbered.”
“Indeed,” Valeria said and then sighed. There was a tightness to her tone when she continued. “Next to arrive should be Amy Ridge.”
“She won’t make it,” Alex said simply. “Somehow, a bandit party was waiting for her carriage. She was beheaded, and her corpse left in the road. Her carriage was robbed. No one else died, and the bandits wore masks.”
Valeria looked stunned at that news. Then she grinned, staring at Alex with more than a hint of amusement. “Oh. That’s unfortunate. It just so happens to be timed with my release from captivity.”
“Indeed,” Alex said, smiling back at her.
“Well, I suppose we’ll need to find a new holder for her barony?” Valeria asked.
“No. I gave it Alanna. She just doesn’t know it yet. Ridge will be reunited again,” Alex said. “Easier that way.”
“Splendid… just… just splendid,” Valeria said, tears threatening the corners of her eyes.
“Three, could you fetch Six for me? Her family should be next, if I don’t miss my guess,” Alex asked, reaching over to lightly stroke Valeria’s back. “Also, there’s a relative of yours running around somewhere in here. He’s going to be officially knighted today. Your entire family will be showing up.”
Valeria choked at that, her chin lifting as she visibly fought back her emotions.
“Oh?” she asked.
“Indeed. He mentioned he was well aware of why his family is getting good treatment. I’ll need you at my side when I present him with his certificate of knighthood. He’ll have a house to manage,” Alex said. “I imagine you’ll need to help them out here and there.”
What Alex didn’t say was he’d also leveled out all of his Numbereds’ salaries. They were now all making what Sylvia did previously. None of them would find out till their next pay day in two weeks. Though Sylvia was still making more. She was also still worth it.
“I see,” Valeria got out after several seconds. “I should… go check on all that, then. I’m afraid I seem to be lacking information.”
“Yes, my apologies. I had a lot of things changed this morning and told them not to tell you,” Alex said. “I know you dislike surprises, but I wanted it this way.”
Valeria gave him a nod, clearly beyond moved.
“I love you, Alex,” she said, then spun on her heel and walked away.
“Goodness,” Rebekah said, pressing up into his side. “That was rather lovely.”
“If you had any family, I’d be doing the same for them,” Alex said as he laid his arm around Rebekah’s shoulders. “But as far as I can tell, you have none.”
“True, I was an orphan,” Rebekah said. “But I appreciate that you looked into me. Would you care to look some more later? I’m pretty sure that nasty, savage count who used that poor young woman so brutally yesterday is still around.”
Alex had spent almost the entire day yesterday just “playing” with Rebekah. And it’d been twisted, dark, sexy, and wonderful.
“You’re so messed up, Seven, but I love you for it,” Alex said.
“Likewise, baby. It was rather enjoyable, though. Really tickled a dark itch I had. And you loved it yourself.” Rebekah patted his chest, then moved away from him. “Oh. It’s Six’s family. This’ll be delightful.”
Annoyed, Alex turned toward the hallway at the end of the doors he’d greeted Alanna at.
Rebekah scurried off, her dress rustling as she went. He imagined she was off to find Eleanor without him having to ask. With any luck, she’d find the knight quickly.
He’d been hoping to have Eleanor beside him when the Rift family showed up.
Eleanor’s family was talking to William Brush, who was acting as the coordinator and final invitation check.
A minute passed before William finally allowed the Rift family to proceed.
“It really is them.”
Glancing over, he found Eleanor had walked up to stand at his right side. She was in a full Brit military uniform, with a Brit coat of arms over that. She looked like a man-at-arms without armor.
“I’m not made for running,” Rebekah said with a soft gasp of breath, coming up on his left. “I’m not made for many things, but especially not for running. I almost popped out of my dress.”
“I’ll make it up to you, Seven. Thank you,” Alex murmured, turning to address the knight. He noticed Katherine waiting off to one side nearby. She was enjoying a glass of what looked like wine, and she seemed quite pleased. “Now… Six. This is the moment I told you would come. How do you want me to handle them? I’m telling you to tell me.”
“Punish them,” Eleanor said immediately. “Punish them, but not as much as the Breft family. Just make them regret how they treated me.”
Alex nodded. He could do that.
In the end, Charles Ulles hadn’t just crushed the Breft family, he’d turned them into little more than debt slaves. Their entire business was now in the Ulles trading company. When they’d had nothing left, he’d hired them at almost nothing in wages to work their old stores in his name.
The Rift family walked up to Alex. One by one, they all noticed Eleanor standing at his side.
“Count Brit,” said a man in his middle age, tearing his eyes away from Eleanor. “I’m Baron Rift, of the house of Rift.”
The baron bowed deeply at the waist, and his action triggered a wave of similar gestures from his family.
“I, of course, pledge my family and all that we are into your care as your vassals,” the baron said.
“Thank you, Baron Rift, for your attendance,” Alex said with a smile. “My wife is currently occupied, I’m afraid. I can introduce you to her later. For now, let me introduce you to my knight, confidant, lover, and personal attendant. Without her, I wouldn’t be here, and I trust her with my life. I’ve even gone so far as to beg her to let me sire a child upon her.”
Turning to Eleanor as he spoke, he reached around and laid his arm around her hips, pulling her in close to his side.
“Eleanor Riff,” Alex said, smiling wide at the baron. “She’s an amazing woman, whom I consider myself beyond fortunate to know, and blessed to have her love. She won’t tell me much of her past, but I’d love to meet the person who encouraged her to become the knight she is. I’d give them the world.”
Eleanor slowly laid her arm around Alex’s shoulders.
“Mistress… Mistress Riff,” the baron said, staring at Eleanor.
“Baron,” Eleanor said with a polite tip of her head.
“Truly, one of a kind.” Alex reached up with his free hand to tip Eleanor’s face toward him, then kissed her right there. “I have no idea how your father could have ever done what he did to you, Ellie. You’re an amazing woman. Just… tell me his name. I’ll have him killed immediately. I’ll put his entire family in the stocks and sell them to a brothel once the commoners are done with them.”
“Master… Alex… not here,” Eleanor said, her cheeks turning red.
“Tell me, Ellie. Just give me their names. I’ll end them all for you,” Alex said as his hand caressed her cheek.
Eleanor slowly turned her face away from the Rift family, looking the part of the blushing maiden.
“As you wish, Ellie. I’ll leave it be. And you’re right,” Alex said, looking back to a white-faced and stricken-looking baron. “I’m being very rude to my new vassals. I’m so sorry, Baron. Please, feel free to have a seat, mingle or talk as you see fit. My beautiful Ellie here handled our security and food preparation for everyone. You have nothing to worry about at all. I was especially concerned after I heard the earl was poisoned.”
The baron nodded his head, and he and his family stiffly walked into the room.
As Eleanor watched them walk away, Alex saw a definite look of satisfaction on her face.
“There,” Alex said, patting her on the hip. “Now you can either crush them or bridge the gap. I don’t care either way. Just make sure there’s at least one family member left alive so I can give them the barony.”
“That was wicked and nasty,” Rebekah said. “I loved it. Care to join us in some role play, Six? I bet we could sneak off for ten minutes for a good start. You can play the part of the captured soldier trying to protect me, and the wicked count can ravage us one after the other. Or at the same time as he forces us on one another.”
“Yes,” Eleanor said, turning to look hard at Alex. “Yes, right now.”
“Later,” Alex said, then turned and waved at Katherine to come over. “I have to butter Katherine up next. Her family should be coming in soon.”
Eleanor grabbed Alex and kissed him hard, shoving her tongue into his mouth. When she pulled away, she smiled at him.
“I love you. Thank you, Alex. And don’t call me Ellie. My name is Six,” she said, resting her forehead on his. Then she walked away, looking immensely proud and confident.
“This whole thing is just you getting everyone where you want them, isn’t it?” Rebekah asked before Katherine could join them.
“Indeed. Numbered, vassals, and wives alike,” Alex said. “Need to get my house in order.”
“Your mind is amazing. I’m so… wet is the only word that comes to mind right now. I really need you to play the wicked count again tonight for me,” Rebekah said. “Six will make it more fun.”
Alex snorted at that, then smiled for Katherine when she came to stand beside him.
“My turn?” asked the lovely Asian woman.
“Indeed. How would you like me to handle your family, wife?” Alex asked, pulling her close to his side.
Anna had quickly agreed to marrying Katherine and forced her to sign the certificate immediately. It needed approval from Regina, but then it would be valid.
Katherine sighed dramatically, pressing into Alex’s side. “I’m not your wife yet, Alex. Soon, though. Then you’ll have my maidenhead, and we can move on to other things. As for my family… treat them nicely, but no favoritism. Not yet. They were rather rude to me and Holly. If they’d forced me to do what I did with any man that wasn’t you, I’d probably be nothing more than a toy for someone else after they got tired of me.”
“A fair point,” Alex said, smiling. They would be considerably easier to handle than Eleanor’s family.
Soon, this woul
d be over, and he’d be heading north toward Regina and her armies.
***
As he moved to stand in front of his small group of vassals, their families, a few of their retainers, and all his close friends and family, Alex felt strange.
He didn’t want to be anything more than a count. Becoming an earl, a duke, an archduke, or a king didn’t appeal to him. He’d been at the top before, and he didn’t want a repeat of that.
He was content with what he already had.
“Welcome, one and all,” Alex said, looking around the room with a smile.
Amy Ridge would not be joining them, and news of her demise wouldn’t arrive until the morrow.
For now, everyone was simply assuming she was held up, or that she was deliberately thumbing her nose at Alex.
The Rift family didn’t look as frightened as they had previously. Alex had seen a young girl from the Rift family approach Eleanor and start up a conversation with her.
After that, some of the frost around Eleanor seemed to fall away.
The Lin family had been all smiles and well wishes for Katherine and Alex, seeming far happier than he thought they’d be. Apparently, Katherine becoming his wife was all they wanted of her.
Both Mary and Alanna had taken their seats for their baronies, though both were now Alex’s wives. The Tilly family looked rather pleased with themselves as they sat behind their family heads.
Quinn had managed to show up as well. She’d left the Xer lands to Niqil to pacify while she took a major portion of her armies north into Brit.
And of course, the Ulles family. They were seated with Anna, as they had yet to be made a barony. Though that would happen shortly.
“Thank you for allowing me to present my newest knight to you all,” Alex said, indicating Greg Marsh and the Marsh family. Valeria had somehow managed to keep her composure during his knighthood ceremony, even when Alex had forced her to be the one to lay the medallion around his neck.
“I confess, I have one more presentation to make, and then we’ll begin discussions about what’s coming,” Alex said with a sardonic smile. “Because I’m sure you’re all aware of the fact that we’ll be heading north to fight in the war. It would be hard to hide that when you all received the calls for your liege levies.”
